UNP accuses Rajapakse Govt for acting on JHU, JVP advice

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 August 2006, 17:38 GMT]The main opposition United National Party (UNP) in a statement issued Friday accused the Rajapakse government in Colombo for acting on the advice of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) in ordering a military operation to capture LTTE controlled Maavil Aaru area "within 24 hours," disregarding the views of veteran military officers. After six days of fighting and suffering heavy casualties, the army has not yet reached the area, the UNP said. The UNP did not participate in the 6th All Parties Conference (APC) held Friday evening. Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse also holds the military portfolio as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of Sri Lanka.

The UNP announced last month of boycotting the APC in condemnation of SL President Mahinda Rajapakse's moves of encouraging MP's from UNP to cross over. But later the decision was revised following outside pressure to the President.

The statement follows:-

The President acting on the advice of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) ordered a military operation to capture Mavilaru anicut within twenty four hours. He disregarded the views of senior experienced military officers. After six days of fighting and suffering heavy casualties, the army has not yet reached the anicut.

Meanwhile, the fighting has spread to Muthur affecting the civilians.

All of a sudden, the Secretary to the President has summoned a meeting of political parties to discuss the present political situation. It is not an all party conference which is summoned by the Director General of the Peace Secretariat.

A majority of the members of the All Party Conference have requested the Government to uphold the Ceasefire Agreement. These political parties were not consulted on the issue of the Mavilaru anicut. Therefore, no purpose is served by summoning a meeting at this late stage and the UNP will not be attending this meeting. We have leady made our position clear condemning the closing of the anicut," the statement concluded.

The UNP boycotted the meeting summoned by the President to discuss the present political situation held Friday evening at Temple Trees, sources said.